Mode selection techniques for intra-prediction video encoding

Abstract

In one embodiment, this disclosure provides an encoding device comprising a mode selection engine that performs mode selection for intra-prediction encoding regardless of whether the encoding device is programmed to comply with first encoding standard or a second encoding standard. The device also includes a first encoder to perform the intra-prediction encoding according to the selected mode in compliance with the first encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard, and a second encoder to perform the intra-prediction encoding according to the selected mode in compliance with the second encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard. The techniques can simplify mode selection in support of multiple different intra-prediction encoding standards.

1. An encoding device comprising:
 a mode selection engine that performs mode selection for intra-prediction encoding of a non-encoded frame regardless of whether the encoding device is programmed to comply with a first encoding standard or a second encoding standard; 
 a first encoder that performs the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame according to the selected mode in compliance with the first encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard; and 
 a second encoder that performs the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame according to the selected mode in compliance with the second encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard. 
 wherein the encoding device is configured to receive programming instructions that specify one of a plurality of encoding standards, the plurality of encoding standards comprising the first encoding standard and the second encoding standard, and wherein the encoding device is configured to use the first encoder to perform the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame when the received instructions specify the first encoding standard and configured to use the second encoder to perform the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame when the received instructions specify the second encoding standard. 
 
     
     
       2. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein the encoding device can be programmed to comply with either the first encoding standard or the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       3. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein first encoder and the second encoder comprise video encoders that encode video sequences. 
     
     
       4. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein the mode selection engine forms part of the first encoder and the second encoder implements the mode selection engine from the first encoder when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       5. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein the first encoding standard comprises an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) H.264 standard and the second encoding standard comprises an ITU H.263 standard. 
     
     
       6. The encoding device of  claim 5 , wherein the mode selection engine performs mode selection in a spatial domain. 
     
     
       7. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein the first encoding standard comprises a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-4 standard and the second encoding standard comprises an ITU H.263 standard. 
     
     
       8. The encoding device of  claim 7 , wherein the mode selection engine performs mode selection in a DCT domain, but in a different manner than mode selection as suggested by the ITU H.263 standard. 
     
     
       9. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein suggested standards documentation for the first encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a first domain, and suggested standards documentation for the second encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a second domain, wherein the mode selection engine performs mode selection in the first domain regardless of whether the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard or the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       10. The encoding device of  claim 1 , wherein suggested standards documentation for the first encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a spatial domain, and suggested standards documentation for the second encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. 
     
     
       11. The encoding device of  claim 10 , wherein the mode selection engine performs mode selection in the spatial domain regardless of whether the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard or the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       12. The encoding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter to transmit video frames encoded by one of the first and second encoders. 
     
     
       13. The encoding device of  claim 12 , further comprising a video capture device to capture video frames in real-time, the first and second encoders being configured to encode the video frames in real-time and the transmitter being configured to transmit the encoded video frames in real-time. 
     
     
       14. A method comprising performing mode selection in a spatial domain for intra-prediction encoding of a non-encoded frame in an encoding device programmed to comply with an encoding standard having suggested standards documentation that specifies intra-prediction in a discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving programming instructions specifying the encoding standard from a plurality of encoding standards. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising performing intra-prediction encoding based on a selected mode in compliance with the encoding standard. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising performing intra-frame encoding in compliance with the encoding standard. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the encoding standard comprises an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) H.263 standard. 
     
     
       19. A method comprising:
 performing mode selection for intra-prediction encoding of a non-encoded frame using a mode selection engine in compliance with a first encoding standard regardless of whether an encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard or a second encoding standard; 
 receiving programming instructions that specify one of a plurality of encoding standards, the plurality of encoding standards comprising the first encoding standard and the second encoding standard; 
 performing the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame according to the selected mode in compliance with the first encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard, wherein the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard when the received programming instructions specify the first encoding standard; and 
 performing the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame according to the selected mode in compliance with the second encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard, wherein the encoding device is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard when the received programming instructions specify the second encoding standard. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first encoding standard comprises an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) H.264 standard and the second encoding standard comprises an ITU H.263 standard. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first encoding standard comprises a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-4 standard and the second encoding standard comprises an ITU H.263 standard. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising performing mode selection in a spatial domain. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 19 , wherein suggested standards documentation for the first encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a first domain, and suggested standards documentation for the second encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a second domain, the method further comprising performing mode selection in the first domain regardless of whether the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard or the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the suggested standards documentation for the first encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a spatial domain, and the suggested standards documentation for the second encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus comprising:
 a mode selection engine that performs mode selection for intra-prediction encoding of a non-encoded frame regardless of whether the encoding apparatus is programmed to comply with first encoding standard or a second encoding standard; 
 means for receiving programming instructions that specify one of a plurality of encoding standards, the plurality of encoding standards comprising the first encoding standard and the second encoding standard; 
 means for performing the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame according to the selected mode in compliance with the first encoding standard when the encoding apparatus is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard, wherein the apparatus is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard when the received programming instructions specify the first encoding standard; and 
 means for performing the intra-prediction encoding of the non-encoded frame according to the selected mode in compliance with the second encoding standard when the encoding apparatus is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard, wherein the apparatus is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard when the received programming instructions specify the second encoding standard. 
 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus comprises a chipset that can be programmed to comply with either the first encoding standard or the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the mode selection engine forms part of a first encoder and a second encoder implements the mode selection engine from the first encoder when the encoding apparatus is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the mode selection engine comprises hardware. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the means for performing the intra-prediction encoding according to the selected mode in compliance with the first encoding standard comprises a combination of hardware and software including the mode selection engine; and 
 the means for performing the intra-prediction encoding according to the selected mode in compliance with the second encoding standard comprises another combination of hardware and software including the mode selection engine. 
 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein suggested standards documentation for the first encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a first domain, and suggested standards documentation for the second encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a second domain, wherein the mode selection engine performs mode selection in the first domain regardless of whether the encoding apparatus is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard or the second encoding standard. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein suggested standards documentation for the first encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a spatial domain, and suggested standards documentation for the second encoding standard specifies intra-prediction in a discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain.